The current study explored first-year student experience in receiving social support and its relation to their ability to adapt with university ethos. It also explored how social support on academic adjustment, social adjustment and emotional adjustment among students were significantly associated with student well-being. This qualitative research utilized individual semi-structured interview protocols to gather narrative data from 16 university students. All students were interviewed twice in order to see changes and developments in receiving social support from university community, peers and family members. Data were tape-recorded, transcribed and analyzed by using thematic approach. It was then coded by independent coders. It has been found in this study that academic adjustments, social adjustment and emotional among new students are dependent on their abilities in receiving socio-educational support from friends (supportive friendship) and families. Results also revealed the powerful influence of parents and the importance of socio-relationship for student wellbeing. This study suggests that the concept of social support should go further than simply identifying it within the context of a university. Findings of this study also indicate the importance of student community, senior students and family-networks in adapting to a new learning environment. There are cumulative evidences from this research to suggest different types of networks in a multicultural university. Students' self-management skills are found to be vital for smoothness of transition to universities.

The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges encountered by teachers in teaching and learning of environmental education and the proposed solutions for cultivating positive behavioural changes among indigenous students. The study was conducted among teachers from 12 primary and secondary indigenous schools in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from the teachers. Based on the findings, two challenges in implementing environmental education in indigenous schools were identified: 1) challenges arising from the teachers and 2) challenges from the indigenous students themselves. Teachers were challenged by time constraints, heavy workload, poor teaching aids, unavailability of manual/handbook, and the lack of support from the school administrators. In contrast, the challenges from the indigenous students come from their lack of environmental awareness, hygiene problem, low self-confidence and problem in learning. The identified challenges can be addressed by teacher's competency in integrating environmental education and creative teaching approaches based on the ability of the indigenous students as well as support from the relevant stakeholders.

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This study aimed at investigating the enhancement of motivation among low achievement students in the History lesson, after the multiple intelligence theory was integrated in teachers' teaching practices. The teachers were expected to apply a new approach with various teaching activities to motivate students to learn. The sample consisted of 68 low achievement students, who were then divided into two groups: 34 students were treated in the treatment group, while another 34 students were put in the control group. This is a quasi-experiment of non equivalent control group design. The questionnaire was distributed to students of both groups, to test the effectiveness of the integration approach. Analysis of the mean and standard deviation was conducted for both groups, while the null hypothesis was tested by the t-test. Based on the pre-test, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The post-test recorded significant motivational differences between the two groups studied. It was determined that the integrated History lesson with multiple intelligences had increased the level of motivation among students in the treatment group. This shows that diversity of methods and activities undertaken were able to change students' perception about the History subject and had increased their interests to learn History. Hence, it can be concluded that integrated multiple intelligence activities are able to increase students' motivation to learn History.

Good supervisory practices help students fulfill their potential and contribute to the University's research profile. At many universities, the terms of a supervisory relationship are left almost entirely to the discretion of individual research students and supervisors. While this approach usually works well, it occasionally proves unsatisfactory. A lack of clarity between student and supervisor with regard to expectations and responsibilities can adversely affect progress towards the completion of the degree. This article reviews the literature on research/graduate student supervision. It describes best practices in research student supervision, and setd out the rights and responsibilities of both students and their supervisors. It is intended to provide some useful guidelines for research students and supervisors in a critically important part of graduate education: the supervision of students' thesis writing and research. Therefore, a review of literature concerning research student supervision is hoped to assist all participants in the supervisory process to articulate their expectations clearly, and thereby to reduce potential problems and to facilitate the creative process of thesis preparation.